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Why would yonex want to compare it to other racquets anyway? The intention was to use their expertise to design a racquet that would give a professional player (TBH) the best chance at setting a world record (while generating publicity). It was not an exercise to see how it compared with other racquets - that would have been done in the lab I'd expect.

I very much doubt the original intent was to make a racket to break world records in the first place..I feel pretty sure that they (or others) can produce a racket that can hit ONE hot faster than arc-Z if they did the head half the size and more fragile/expensive, without taking massproduction and overall performance into account.

My firm beleif is that this "speed" test and inviting guiness etc. was solely to market/hype that particular model for sales, and nothing else, and anything else is an afterthought argument when the racket got bad reception from pros.

I very much doubt the original intent was to make a racket to break world records in the first place..I feel pretty sure that they (or others) can produce a racket that can hit ONE hot faster than arc-Z if they did the head half the size and more fragile/expensive, without taking massproduction and overall performance into account.

My firm beleif is that this "speed" test and inviting guiness etc. was solely to market/hype that particular model for sales, and nothing else, and anything else is an afterthought argument when the racket got bad reception from pros.

Well you might well be right, or they could have had both intentions in mind (record & sales)... who knows? Of course they wouldn't have produced a racquet solely to break a record. Anyway, my point is that the racquet is definitely not a "beginners" racquet and there's no evidence to suggest that the arc-z doesn't improve power. But given that smash records, be it Guinness World Records or tournament statistics have continually increased in speed ever since records began my money would be on the new technology giving players the extra power. I remember when Simon Archer had the previous record for the fastest smash (google says 260kph), comparing that with the 421kph of TBH I would say racquet technology would have contributed to that to some degree.

I think it's a combination of improved training meaning that both improved racket strength and strings that can go 30+ pounds means smashes are getting faster. As Yonex haven't used TBH or borrowed FHF and put a ZSlash in their hands, it's impossible to know what they would do with it. The cynical ( read: twobeer ) would probably a argue there's a good reason for that.

I think it's a combination of improved training meaning that both improved racket strength and strings that can go 30+ pounds means smashes are getting faster. As Yonex haven't used TBH or borrowed FHF and put a ZSlash in their hands, it's impossible to know what they would do with it. The cynical ( read: twobeer ) would probably a argue there's a good reason for that.

definitvely .. And to continue my cynical view, is that I think the abscense of comparative test from YY with different models, different players, competitors models, actuallly says as much, as the tests say

To me real speed recordings of smashes at real tournamnets is a more interesting indicator of rackets (and players) power..

If anyone has realised Kenichi Tago switched the to Voltric 80 around August and now he has switched back to the Arcsaber Z-Slash
Personally for me, I think my smashes are faster after using the nanospeed 800
a factor is the Nanospeed has a thick frame as the Z-slash has a slimmer frame letting the swing speed of the racket faster than that nanospeed.

I love Z-Slash and is still longing to buy one if the price is right considering a brand new VT80 cost much lesser than an older model Z-Slash. TBH probably was so used to Ti10 that his experience and expectation of rebound, speed, angle all went hay wire after using Z-slash. I have no prior experience with other high end YY so wielding Z just improved my game straight away and converted me into a wrist player with speed and accuracy rather than using arm strength as with most beginners.
Switching to VT80, my timing was out, delicate shots are harder to push, defense was slower however overhead and backhand clears are more accurate and easier to execute. But my forte is smashing and dropshot with sound defense. So I'm just like Kenichi Tago, and not a LCW.
Tried G2 Ti10 recently and found it to be easy to handle and above average on all aspects but nothing spectacular so I have bought Ti10 LTD since the price is attractive.
BTW tried LN N90II before, flexy shaft with high repulsion power on well timed shots. But not as fast as Z. Price is ridiculous and makes no sense although I do like it.
Pls give feedback as a Z user and your level/style of play.

I love Z-Slash and is still longing to buy one if the price is right considering a brand new VT80 cost much lesser than an older model Z-Slash. TBH probably was so used to Ti10 that his experience and expectation of rebound, speed, angle all went hay wire after using Z-slash. I have no prior experience with other high end YY so wielding Z just improved my game straight away and converted me into a wrist player with speed and accuracy rather than using arm strength as with most beginners.
Switching to VT80, my timing was out, delicate shots are harder to push, defense was slower however overhead and backhand clears are more accurate and easier to execute. But my forte is smashing and dropshot with sound defense. So I'm just like Kenichi Tago, and not a LCW.
Tried G2 Ti10 recently and found it to be easy to handle and above average on all aspects but nothing spectacular so I have bought Ti10 LTD since the price is attractive.
BTW tried LN N90II before, flexy shaft with high repulsion power on well timed shots. But not as fast as Z. Price is ridiculous and makes no sense although I do like it.
Pls give feedback as a Z user and your level/style of play.

I love Z-Slash and is still longing to buy one if the price is right considering a brand new VT80 cost much lesser than an older model Z-Slash. TBH probably was so used to Ti10 that his experience and expectation of rebound, speed, angle all went hay wire after using Z-slash. I have no prior experience with other high end YY so wielding Z just improved my game straight away and converted me into a wrist player with speed and accuracy rather than using arm strength as with most beginners.
Switching to VT80, my timing was out, delicate shots are harder to push, defense was slower however overhead and backhand clears are more accurate and easier to execute. But my forte is smashing and dropshot with sound defense. So I'm just like Kenichi Tago, and not a LCW.
Tried G2 Ti10 recently and found it to be easy to handle and above average on all aspects but nothing spectacular so I have bought Ti10 LTD since the price is attractive.
BTW tried LN N90II before, flexy shaft with high repulsion power on well timed shots. But not as fast as Z. Price is ridiculous and makes no sense although I do like it.
Pls give feedback as a Z user and your level/style of play.

Tago using z-slash and executing some of the great smashes and backhand shot.